TITLE: DECISION MAKING
AUTHOR: LEZLIE A. KELLEY; UTAH LAW-RELATED EDUCATION PROJECT
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
GRADE LEVEL: Appropriate for students 4th-6th grade
OVERVIEW: Conflict resolution is a trend to which students need to
become familiar. They should understand the possible impact that
alternative dispute resolution may have in their lives.
PURPOSE: This lesson encourages students to think of different ways in
which they may solve their problems. The traditional "My father can beat
up your father" or "I'll see you in court" are old-fashioned approaches
to problem solving.
OBJECTIVES: Students will identify the problem, the choices and the
consequences both positive and negative. The students will work together
to make a group decision.
ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES:
A. Distribute copies of "Decision Mountain." Inform students that they are
going to make a decision by climbing the "Decision Mountain." By climbing
the mountain they will learn the steps involved in decision making, while
examining in further detail the problem presented in their story. Have
students break into groups of five or six.
B. Ask students to read the story to their group and identify the problem.
At the foot of the mountain, write the problem.
1. Ask students to identify possible options for resolving the problem.
List negative and positive options.
2. Next, have the class identify the consequence (positive or negative)
for the specific option. List the consequences with the corresponding
option number.
3. Review and discuss information. Ask students to decide which
options and corresponding consequences are best. Have students write
their group decision at the top of the mountain.
C. Ask students to share their story with the class. Discuss problems and
decisions. Discuss how decisions were made and why it solves the problem.
STORIES
1. Catherine is not doing very well in her English class. Whether she
passes or not depends on her final written project. Even though she has
always tried hard, she hasn't been able to get very good grades. She finds
the paper that her brother did on the topic three years ago and this paper
received an "A."
2. You forgot your social studies assignment. Today is the day when
everyone is supposed to bring some object to show to the class. The
object should be something that has to do with American History. As you
start out the door of the house, you remember your sister's arrowhead
collection. Great idea-- you could take the collection to school for social
studies class.
Suddenly, you remember how your sister feels about the collection.
She always says, "I'll never take this collection to school because I don't
want to lose or damage it." Since she is already on her way to school, you
can't ask permission to take the collection. But the collection is the
perfect thing for the assignment.
3. The children in Mrs. Dunn's sixth grade class were having a special
treat. A collector of Indian artifacts was visiting and he brought with
him some Indian weapons, clothing and beads. He was going to teach the
children some Indian words and songs. But before he could start his
program, Mrs. Dunn had to take him down the meet the principal. The
collector asked that no one touch his belongings, and he put a student,
Jane in charge, saying that if anyone touched his things, he would call off
his visit. Shortly after Mrs. Dunn and the collector left, a few children
couldn't resist touching the clothing and trying on some of the beads.
When the collector and Mrs. Dunn returned, Jane did not know what to do.
4. The Smith's new neighbors are coming unexpectedly to visit the Smith's
in two hours. The Smith children, Bob and Sally, are at home watching
their favorite television show with their best friends. Mr. Smith, wanting
to make a good impression on the soon to arrive guests and feeling anxious
about meeting new people, immediately turned off the television and told
the children to clean the house. When Bob began to question his father, Mr.
Smith got even angrier, and Sally embarrassed by her father's tone of
voice, ran to her room crying.
5. Mike brought a walkman radio to school that he had just received as a
birthday gift the night before. All of his friends wanted to have a turn
playing the walkman. When it was James' turn, he accidentally broke off
one of the knobs. Mike saw this happen and got really mad at James.
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John Kurilecjmk@ofcn.org